If you're a hipster in large city and never leave your local echochamber, agree, many cases this is a smart move, and it frees up time dealing with parking in additional the financial benefits. Given the expanse of the USA, this is pretty much impractical anywhere else.
That being said, there's a hedge angle here: Cars before 2027 could possibly increase in market value at some point. With new mandatory spy-tech laws taking hold, initiated by Democrats, affirmed by Republicans, and the explosion of touchscreen bonanzas in new models, new models of cars are becoming unrepairable... meanwhile you see F-150s from the 1990s on the road today.
Ah, yes, an urbanist telling me to sell the thing that allows me to live far enough away from the metropole such that I can afford a home, which, in turn, is now the only alternative available to a pension, and those, famously, no longer exist for nearly all workers. Factor that in, and selling your car gets you short-term gains in exchange for several decades of poverty at the other end.
Friends, we are going to need to do better than, "have enough money not to put your head in the money-stealing bear trap." We all know it's expensive to be poor. That's what just poverty is; noticing this does not mean you get to stop paying for it.
And I say this as an urbanist, with progressive politics, in a city well-serviced by public transit.
I used to live in the south. You cannot survive without a car in the south unless you live directly in the city you work in. Bike lanes don't exist. Public transit is at best an unfunny joke told by your racist uncle.
I live in a much more bike friendly area now. I have a nice ebike and there are many days I could easily bike to work, if it weren't for the fact that at the drop of a hat I would need to drive 60 miles with no warning for some work thing.
That being said, the next best financial advice that could be given is to get rid of your expensive car, buy a 20 year old clunker with a good engine, brakes, and tires, pay it off asap, drop your insurance to the state minimums (but raise the liability coverage to $100k or so since there are so many cars that cost that much nowadays), and drive it till the wheels fall off.
You may need a car, but you don't need a fancy car. If it runs, doesn't excessively pollute, doesn't need any serious maintenance, you keep it clean, and you can pay it off in a reasonable amount of time, your annual vehicle expenses will drop to a little over $2,000/yr after fuel, maintenance, and insurance, and you will have so much more money free for important things like going out with friends and doing things, or, if nothing else, for paying off debt and building emergency funds.
You can have a nice car if you want it, but if your car is preventing you from making progress towards your financial goals, consider a compromise.
5 years of a crap car can save you easily $30+ thousand dollars or more in expenses and make a real positive change in your future.
If you're a hipster in large city and never leave your local echochamber, agree, many cases this is a smart move, and it frees up time dealing with parking in additional the financial benefits. Given the expanse of the USA, this is pretty much impractical anywhere else.
That being said, there's a hedge angle here: Cars before 2027 could possibly increase in market value at some point. With new mandatory spy-tech laws taking hold, initiated by Democrats, affirmed by Republicans, and the explosion of touchscreen bonanzas in new models, new models of cars are becoming unrepairable... meanwhile you see F-150s from the 1990s on the road today.
Ah, yes, an urbanist telling me to sell the thing that allows me to live far enough away from the metropole such that I can afford a home, which, in turn, is now the only alternative available to a pension, and those, famously, no longer exist for nearly all workers. Factor that in, and selling your car gets you short-term gains in exchange for several decades of poverty at the other end.
Friends, we are going to need to do better than, "have enough money not to put your head in the money-stealing bear trap." We all know it's expensive to be poor. That's what just poverty is; noticing this does not mean you get to stop paying for it.
And I say this as an urbanist, with progressive politics, in a city well-serviced by public transit.
It's a good decision if you are that person.
I used to live in the south. You cannot survive without a car in the south unless you live directly in the city you work in. Bike lanes don't exist. Public transit is at best an unfunny joke told by your racist uncle.
I live in a much more bike friendly area now. I have a nice ebike and there are many days I could easily bike to work, if it weren't for the fact that at the drop of a hat I would need to drive 60 miles with no warning for some work thing.
That being said, the next best financial advice that could be given is to get rid of your expensive car, buy a 20 year old clunker with a good engine, brakes, and tires, pay it off asap, drop your insurance to the state minimums (but raise the liability coverage to $100k or so since there are so many cars that cost that much nowadays), and drive it till the wheels fall off.
You may need a car, but you don't need a fancy car. If it runs, doesn't excessively pollute, doesn't need any serious maintenance, you keep it clean, and you can pay it off in a reasonable amount of time, your annual vehicle expenses will drop to a little over $2,000/yr after fuel, maintenance, and insurance, and you will have so much more money free for important things like going out with friends and doing things, or, if nothing else, for paying off debt and building emergency funds.
You can have a nice car if you want it, but if your car is preventing you from making progress towards your financial goals, consider a compromise.
5 years of a crap car can save you easily $30+ thousand dollars or more in expenses and make a real positive change in your future.
Top 5 stupid takes. 5. This article.